--- title: Does group counseling reduce PMS symptoms and depression, stress, and anxiety? description: Yes, group counseling significantly reduced PMS severity and depression, stress, and anxiety in women with PMS. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effect-of-group-counseling-on-depression-stress-and-anxiety-of-premenstrual-2022/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does group counseling reduce PMS symptoms and depression, stress, and anxiety? Randomised trial, 2022 # Does group counseling reduce PMS symptoms and depression, stress, and anxiety? Yes, group counseling significantly reduced PMS severity and depression, stress, and anxiety in women with PMS. Moderate study design 112 married women with PMS in Qazvin, Iran ## What they did This was a randomized controlled trial with 112 married women with PMS in Iran. The treatment group attended three 45-minute counseling sessions about PMS, depression, stress, anxiety, and mood management. The control group received no counseling. Both groups answered questionnaires about depression, anxiety, stress, and PMS symptoms before and after. ## What they found The treatment group had significant decreases in PMS severity, depression, anxiety, and stress after the counseling (all p<0.001). The control group showed no significant changes. ## What it means for you Counseling can reduce PMS symptoms and mood problems connected to PMS. This study only included married women in one Iranian city, so results may differ in other populations. 112 women 3 counseling sessions 45 minutes per session ## About the study Original title Effect of Group Counseling on Depression, Stress, and Anxiety of Premenstrual Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial Authors Farnaz Fooladiha, Monirsadat Mirzadeh, Maryam Sarraf et al. Journal International Journal of Women s Health and Reproduction Sciences Year 2022 Study design Randomised trial Participants 112 What was tested 3 group counseling sessions of 45 minutes each Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.15296/ijwhr.2022.35](https://doi.org/10.15296/ijwhr.2022.35) Original abstract Objectives: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical, spiritual, and emotional symptoms, which periodically happens before the cycle. The current research aims to investigate the effect of group counseling on depression, stress, and anxiety of PMS. Materials and Methods: The current study is a randomized clinical control trial on 112 married women who experience PMS that makes them refer to health centers in Qazvin city. The samples were divided into two groups of 55 in control and 57 in the trial group, randomly. Three sessions of group counseling were held for the trial group, each session was 45 minutes long and including teaching about PMS and its symptoms, depression, stress, and anxiety caused by this syndrome, and also negative mood and stress management skills. Data were gathered by demographic information questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales 21, and PMS scale. Results: Initially, when starting the study, the results of the studied variables were homogeneous in both intervention and control groups. Moreover, no significant difference was seen in the severity level of PMS symptoms (P=0.70) and depression (P=0.61), stress (P=0.10), and anxiety (P=0.60) score before intervention in both groups. After intervention, the mean scores of severity of the PMS (P<0.001), depression (P<0.001), stress (P<0.001), and anxiety (P<0.001) in the intervention group significantly decreased. Conclusions: Group counseling caused a significant reduction in the severity of PMSs and depression, stress, and anxiety. Counseling protocol for reducing the severity of the PMS and treating depression recommended. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2026 Does education about PMS symptoms help reduce pain and stress? 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